How many 20 somethings are on Disability for Crohns?

[Crohnsnewbie]

I'm going to be 24 and I'm trying to get on disability for crohns because I've been in a flare up for 11 months and still can't get out much or anything. I had to quit college and I got fired from work because of Crohns. I'm getting a disability lawyer next week (a very cheap one so that contingency will be 33% and not 40% like the cleveland fancy lawyers lol). My Crohns is flaring up more now and it's impossible to just go to the store for groceries (on food stamps) or get in my car at all most days (no more car insurance). My doctor is only treating me with Lialda. I can't afford to see my doc again, and right now I'm hoping my "free" medicine from the shire company comes to me soon because I'm almost out of Lialda! :O

 

[MADiMarc]

I am so sorry you are experiencing so much pain. I was fired from a job once, in my 20's, due to a flare. I sued the SOB and won. This was not easy as Texas is a work at will state. I can offer no advise regarding disability, sorry. I just wanted to offer you some support. Good luck!

 

[Crohnsnewbie]

Ohio is a work at will state too! Many different lawyers said I had no case at all! That's so wrong, this boss was the kind to not hire people that had back problems or any health problems then I get a health problem and he fires me

 

[lookame]

If your in franklin county in ohio you can contact columbus legal aid and they'll help you with getting disability(as they told me they won't help apply but will help disbute the denial)

 

[Crohnsnewbie]

I'm in Stark County......

 

[KimchiiFiend]

Honey I'm sorry to hear your going through so much difficult time due to the Crohns! :<

I had gone through something similar at your age. Back in 2010 when I was 25 my crohns escalated to constant pain, diarrhea, vomiting and dropping down to 90 lbs. I was very weak and couldn't even hold water down. I had no insurance and was in and out of ER's like you; they too did nothing for me but give me fluid and sh-tty medication for months. I was finally admitted for over two weeks since I was on deaths door and they gave me high dose of prednisone and remicade which fixed me up. It wasn't cheap..over 60k in billing ahhhh. Still I have my life!

After I got out I applied to the state for disability and fortunately was approved after applying twice. Just keep trying! I wish you luck and hope you get the help you need soon! :hug:

 

[Rain]

I have a friend who is in her twenties and trying to get on disability for a bad back. I hear that you usually have to keep trying. Lialda is obviously not working well, so your doctor needs to put you on something else when your able to go..geez..Also, It isn't really legal to get fired over a medical condition..unless your in the probationary period, maybe. I hope all goes well! keep us posted.
If you had that job for a long time, then I would try to sue.. I quit my job voluntarily because I was calling in so much. I was working in a life-care center for the disabled, so I supposed that's why they would've let me keep the job.

 

[ThanksP]

Welcome Back! http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=30890 I was wondering how you faired. Hopefully you are now able to get the help you need. Best of luck to you.

 

[Crohnsnewbie]

I've been getting help from friends and an old teacher I had at the college that have been giving me checks for my bills and rent. Without them I'd be on the streets. Still having trouble with disability, and cash assistance denied me. No funds coming in except the occasional check help from friends or acquaintances. God has blessed me every step of the way. Whenever I'm close to having nowhere to go God helps me. My $200 food stamps help every month. My sister works more hours now once in awhile.

 

[lookame]

Sorry hun. I know what its like. Lialda didn't help.me much, neither did 6mp so now im on a combination therapy of 6mp, lialda and remicade. Its really tough but like you I get a small amount for food stamps. I've been on Medicaid for a year now until they kicked me off and put me on transitional Medicaid which means after this year ill be without insurance. Im using columbus legal aid to fight the case and hope to win cause of I don't....well I get to watch myself slowly get sicker ans sicker. Every now and then when things get tough we go to a local church which has a food bank and ask them for a prayer as well as a small prayer for health.

Disability os a hard sell...especially when it comes to us 20 or so year olds. My parents are really hard on me to apply if anything to get Medicaid without financial approval. Either way way I hope you get it

 

[Starla86]

I am 25 and was just recently approved for disablilty after my first application. I applied in June 2011 after emergency resection surgery which was a horrible experience. I lost my job bc of the surgery and the amount of time that I was in the hospital. My dr was the one that suggested it to me and said that she would support me and fill out all the necessary paperwork. At the time of my surgery I was on Remicade which was my last step since nothing else had worked, Im allergic to sulfa which in turn meant I couldnt take the 5ASAs that are normally recommended. There are requirements that have to met in order to qualify for Crohns disability. One of these is surgery and the failure of it....I flared again in September 2011 and was put on Humira. You also have to have tried multiple medicines and failed on them as well.I had to go see specialist that SSI designated and even go see a psychiatrist I guess to make sure that I knew what was going on and what I was asking for. Now it is not an easy process but it is possible. The downfall to going on SSI at such a young age is that the amount of money that you will receive is minimal. It is based on how long you have worked and what you have paid in. There is a chance that you have not paid in enough money to the system and you wont qualify based on that. I have actually worked since I was 14 so that played in my favor. You should go online and do alot of research about what you are getting into, and a lawyer is not a necessary step unless you are denied. I didnt have to have one. FYI I have gotten alot of flak from people bc of my decision to do this, but I am in a position in my life where I need the help in order to take care of my family and myself. Do what you need to make yourself well Hope this helps and please feel free to ask more questions.

 

[elizamt]

Have you tried searching online for an employment discrimination attorney who takes pro bono cases? Most state bar associations strongly recommend that attorneys take on pro bono projects every year, so you might try to contact the bar as well. You can also contact the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission and see what resources they have. I know getting pitched in a legal battle isn't ideal for anyone, but it might be worth it (especially if you find a pro bono lawyer or one that takes a smallllllllll contingency fee) if it results in having a safety net down the line. Pursue every avenue that you can, and something is bound to work out in the end!

 

[lookame]

I am 25 and was just recently approved for disablilty after my first application. I applied in June 2011 after emergency resection surgery which was a horrible experience. I lost my job bc of the surgery and the amount of time that I was in the hospital. My dr was the one that suggested it to me and said that she would support me and fill out all the necessary paperwork. At the time of my surgery I was on Remicade which was my last step since nothing else had worked, Im allergic to sulfa which in turn meant I couldnt take the 5ASAs that are normally recommended. There are requirements that have to met in order to qualify for Crohns disability. One of these is surgery and the failure of it....I flared again in September 2011 and was put on Humira. You also have to have tried multiple medicines and failed on them as well.I had to go see specialist that SSI designated and even go see a psychiatrist I guess to make sure that I knew what was going on and what I was asking for. Now it is not an easy process but it is possible. The downfall to going on SSI at such a young age is that the amount of money that you will receive is minimal. It is based on how long you have worked and what you have paid in. There is a chance that you have not paid in enough money to the system and you wont qualify based on that. I have actually worked since I was 14 so that played in my favor. You should go online and do alot of research about what you are getting into, and a lawyer is not a necessary step unless you are denied. I didnt have to have one. FYI I have gotten alot of flak from people bc of my decision to do this, but I am in a position in my life where I need the help in order to take care of my family and myself. Do what you need to make yourself well Hope this helps and please feel free to ask more questions.

I had a company which helps people on welfare apply for disability but you have to meet certain requirements. I was turned away due to not having a surgery. She told me if I needed surgery then she could take me on as a client(then it would be basically an open and shut case and I would almost certainly be approved) she also said if I needed blood transfusions regularly then I could also call back and she could take me on.

 

[Crohnsnewbie]

I'm getting a disability lawyer on the 23rd, they said I qualify since I've worked 6 years of my life. I literally can't work at all so if not disability then I'll depend on friends to send checks for me to live off of and charities until I'm able to qualify for disability.

 

[leakyBHsyndrome]

I am no longer in my 20's (31), but was laid off from my job in 2009. I was just coming up on my 10th anniversary with the company. Times were slow and economy was bad, but I believe the main reason I was laid off was due to the amount of time I had missed due to crohn's. I would occassionaly miss a day here or there due to the disease. Also, twice I missed a week due to surgery for abcesses. Not to mention the half days for dr. appts, etc. I have thought about sueing, but figured here in Ohio I would not have gotten anywhere with the case.

Regardless, I have been a full time student and worked part time since 2009, until January of this year. Had to quit school for the time being. Didn't have insurance from 2009-present and no way of paying for meds. Finally it got so bad I had to do something. I contacted the Cleveland Clinic (where I GI dr is, and thankfully I live close to one of the world's best hospitals). They offered me financial assistance to begin seeing a dr again. Turns out I had serious issues. Fistula's & stricturing. Bowl resection in 3 different areas in my intestines and had to repair my bladder due to a fistula. The surgery cost $85K not to mention colonoscopy, MRI, & dr. appts. Since I am currently not makinig any money they offered me 100% assistance. I am sooooo thankful for this. Yesterday was my first Remicade infustion (which JOhnson & Johnson is helping me out for a year for free). HOpefully my body reacts well to this medication. Dr. says disease is very aggresive. I also have mushroom catheter in rectum due to fistula.

I am currently on food stamps, waiting to hear about medicaid, and just filed my application for disability on dr. recommendation. I hired a lawyer from the get-go hoping not to have to wait for 2 years to get approved.

 

[kiny]

No one basically gets disability here, and I mean no one, I haven't heard of disability for crohn for anyone and I've spoken with dozens of people in the clinic. I inquired myself at one point, even though I had a job, but they said no, period. Their job is to get people on their feet and motivated was the answer. The only way to feel proud about yourself and to mean something is to contribute to society, you are not contributing to society if you're on disability, I was pretty pissed when I heard my doc said that, because he didn't have to go through what I went through, but he has a point, once you contribute to society you feel so much better about yourself.

My doc always said that his goal was not to just make me feel better, his job is to get people on their feet and back into society, to make them feel like they're worth something, to make them feel like they are a piece of the economy and not someone who feels like a third wheel.

I'm in Belgium btw, I think it's hilarious when I talk to people from the U.S. and they go "what do you mean you get no compensation? I thought Europe had free healthcare"....yeah...no..it's a lot more complicated than that.

 

[Jenny06xx]

Same here disability living allowance is only given here of you cannot walk .
If you can wash yourself and make yourself a meal and walk you get denied !!

It doesn't matter if in your worst flare you cannot do these things coz on a good day you can .

Yet people lie an pretend they have a bad back or agoraphobia and they get it full wack.
I hate the disability system here .
I receive no benefits at all apart from what every one gets child tax credit and child benefit , luckily my husband works to support us all but even on his low wage from being a taxi driver we get no assistance with anything , even school dinners cost me £5 a day plus snacks for breaks etc .
It makes me mad at all the fakers out there making it hard for the ones who really need some financial help .
Jen xx

 

[nogutsnoglory]

I'm in my 20's and was on disability up until recently. How much do you all get on disability?

 

[Rebecca85]

Jenny- I know exactly what you mean! A child at our school has an agoraphobic mum, his (much older) sister brings the boy to school every day because mum can't go out. Sister is homeschooled due to mum's condition. Yet mum managed a 2 week holiday to Spain last year!